Dr. Salman Al-Ansari is the founding partner of the Firm. He advises clients on all facets of their operations in the Middle East, including corporate formation, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, finance and securities, intellectual property, construction, and dispute resolution. Salman experience encompasses representing clients in complex commercial litigation and before arbitration before Qatar Courts and various arbitration tribunals. Salman represented clients in multi-billion dollars litigations and arbitrations in various sectors.
Before joining the firm, Dr. Al-Ansari worked at a leading international firm where he was exposed to cross-border transactions and disputes. Furthermore, he worked as a full-time lecturer of law at Qatar University College of Law, where he taught courses such as Company Law and Legal Research and Writing. Salman serves as an arbitrator in many local and international arbitrations. He is ranked as a leading lawyer in dispute resolution and corporate by various ranking platforms.
Experience
- Advised the State as Qatar Law Expert in ICSID dispute.
- Advised a private company as Qatar Law Expert in ICSID dispute.
- Represented international client on a multi-billion Qatari Riyals litigation.
- Represented a major governmental company in a multi-billion dollars arbitrations.
- Represented a major governmental company in a multi-billion litigations.
- Represented an international company in $500 million arbitration.
- Represented a media entity in multi-million rights disputes.
- Negotiated and drafted the FIFA Enabling Law and associated decisions and Conducted a gap analysis on Qatar laws against FIFA’s guarantees in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
- Advised Qatar Football Association together with the GCC members associations in establishing the Arabian Gulf Cup Association, the establishment of Qatar Sports Arbitration Foundation, and Qatar Players Association.
- Advised a leading LNG company on a USD100million pledge agreement.
Professional Affiliations
- LCIA Arab Users’ Council, Councilor.
- Kuwait National Arbitration Tribunal, Arbitrator.
- Court of Arbitration for Sport, Arbitrator.
- Appeals Committee, Asia Football Federation AFC, Chairperson, 2015 – Present.
- Appeals Committee, FIFA, Member, 2017 –Present.
- Qatar Sports Arbitration Foundation, Vice President, 2016 – Present.
Publications
Books
- Alansari S and Schnider C, ‘S7’ in Ilias Bantekas and others (eds), Commentary on the Court of Arbitration for Sport Code, (Cambridge University Press 2027), (Forthcoming).
- Bantekas I and Alansari S, 'Legal Challenges for the 2026 and 2027 FIFA World Cups' in Simon Chadwick and others (eds), The Business of the FIFA World Cup (2ndedn, Routledge 2026).
- Alansari S and Segura R, ‘Qatar Frameworks’ in Louise Moore and others (eds), Environmental Risks for Major Projects: Jurisdictional Comparisons, (1st edn, European Lawyer Ltd 2012).
Articles
- Alansari S and Bantekas I, 'Addressing Human Rights Risk Through Mega-Sporting Event Implementing Legislation: A Comparison between the Russian and Qatari FIFA World Cups' (2026) Houston Journal of International Law, (Forthcoming).
- Alansari S and Bantekas I, 'Resolution of Human Rights Disputes Arising from Mega-Sport Events: Why Claims Against Sport Governing Bodies are Next to Impossible?'(2026) UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, (Forthcoming).
Honors & Awards
- The Middle East Achievement Award 2017, The Middle East Legal Awards, hosted by LegalWeek and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC).
- Ranked as one of the leading lawyers in the State of Qatar, Chambers Global Guide, Chambers & Partners, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Recognition Award for winning the 3rd position in the Youth Olympics in Moscow, Youth and Sports Authority, 1999.
Contact:
salansari@alansarilf.comEducation:
Hamad Bin Khalifa University, S.J.D., 2026; HEC Paris, Executive MBA, 2013; University of Pennsylvania, LL.M., 2007; Georgetown University, American Foreign Policy (Continuing Education), 2005; Qatar University, LL.B., with honors, 2004.
